A one-of-a-kind collection including some never-before-seen photographs of the wild and unforgettable WHA from legendary sports photographer Steve Babineau

On October 12, 1972, legendary Boston sports photographer, Steve Babineau, was in attendance for the debut of the New England Whalers. They were taking on the Philadelphia Blazers at the old Boston Garden — and Babs was shooting the action. Fifty years later, he’s still photographing big-league sports events — but this lovingly curated collection documents both his earliest published (and unseen) works and the wild emergence of the colorful, revolutionary, wild, and unforgettable WHA.

In an era when rolls of film still had to be changed by hand and cameras were focused manually, when arena lighting was questionable and images had to be captured through the haze produced by smoking fans, Babineau captured it all: the timeless legends who were finally getting paid, the journeymen who finally got a shot at the pros, the 17-year-old who would go on to rewrite record books, the brawls and goals, the glorious ’staches and flows, the highs and the lows …

Behind the Lens: The World Hockey Association 50 Years Later has the Golden Jet and the Howes, the teams that seemed to change names and cities as often as some players changed wooden sticks, and even the true origin story of that Wayne Gretzky photo that’s become the million-dollar holy grail for sports card collectors.

Sales and Market Bullets

• WHERE STARS WERE BORN: Many great hockey players began their careers in the WHA, including Mark Howe, Wayne Gretzky, Mike Gartner, Mike Liut, and Mark Messier. Steve Babineau took the iconic photograph of Wayne Gretzky for his rookie card, which later sold for 3.75 million dollars.
• MODERN HOCKEY: The WHA is said to have driven hockey into the modern age. It freed players from the reserve clause, ushered in the 18-year-old draft, moved the game into the Sun Belt, and put European players on the ice. By the end of its seven-year stint, four of the teams were ushered into the expanded NHL: the Winnipeg Jets, Quebec Nordiques, Edmonton Oilers, and Hartford Whalers.
• FEW BOOKS ABOUT THE WHA ON THE MARKET: Aside from the 2005 McClelland & Stewart book The Rebel League: The Short and Unruly Life of the World Hockey Association and a handful of stats or facts books, there aren’t many books on the WHA in the market. This book is perfectly timed to the 50th anniversary of the league’s beginnings and will fill the gap in the market.
• THE RIGHT TIME: October 11, 2022, marks what would have been the 50th anniversary of professional hockey’s “Rebel League” — the World Hockey Association.
• THE PERFECT GIFT FOR HOCKEY FANS: 200 full-color photographs of hockey superstars such as Wayne Gretzky and Gordie Howe, as well as plenty of action shots from iconic players at the beginning of their careers, Behind the Lens is the perfect gift for hockey nostalgics and those who love to learn about the history of the game.

Audience

• Older, nostalgic hockey fans
• Those interested in sports photography
• Gift buyers